Public Information Centre for Stormwater Management Fee to Be Held May 5
/A public information centre for the Stormwater Management Fee will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 5 at the Peterborough Public Library.
file photo.
Peterborough Blogs
Structural Watermain Rehabilitation Underway On Cherryhill Road
/Structural watermain rehabilitation is now underway along Cherryhill Road from Redwood Drive to Kawartha Heights Boulevard.
Photo by Felicia Massey.
The City of Peterborough says that work is expected to continue through June.
Structural rehabilitation work includes watermain cleaning and applying a structural liner within the watermain to protect the pipe from future deterioration. This work will improve the overall structural integrity of the watermain.
Other work will include testing existing water services and main line valves, replacing valves and hydrants.
Temporary watermains will be in place along the curb. Affected curbs, streets, sidewalks, driveways and boulevards will be restored when work is completed.
Lane reductions and sidewalk closures will be in place where work is underway. Traffic control measures and signage will be in place to guide motorists and pedestrians.
For City of Peterborough Water Services inquiries, including watermain breaks on public property, call (extension 1295) during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For after-hours emergencies, call this number.
For more information on water services, visit the website.
City of Peterborough Encourages Temporary Water Conservation Due to Significant Rainfall
/Residents are encouraged to temporarily reduce non-essential water use to help lower the volume of water being processed by the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.
file photo.
Forecasts indicate significant rainfall over the next several days, combined with increased runoff from upstream areas, including the Haliburton-Reservoir Lakes region. This is increasing the volume of water entering the municipal wastewater system and placing additional pressure on sewer infrastructure.
The Wastewater Treatment Plant is experiencing higher-than-normal flows. It is operating within capacity, and treatment is taking place as expected.
During major wet weather events, rainwater can reach the sanitary sewer through foundation drains, cracks in pipes and improperly connected sump pumps or downspouts. This additional flow, known as inflow and infiltration, adds to the volume that must be carried and treated.
To help manage these temporary increases, residents are encouraged to reduce non-essential water use for short periods during significant rainfall events. When many households take steps to limit indoor water use, these actions help lower peak flows and reduce pressure on sewer pipes and pumping stations during extreme conditions.
Residents can assist by delaying laundry and dishwasher use, taking shorter showers, avoiding full bathtub fills and turning off taps when not in use. Homeowners can also help reduce stormwater entering the sanitary system by ensuring sump pumps discharge outside, keeping downspouts disconnected from sanitary sewers and directing roof drainage away from foundations.
For more information on water conservation during weather events, visit the website.
Temporary Overnight Road Closure on Brealey Drive From March 29 to 30 Due to Watermain Work
/Brealey Drive will be temporarily closed between Lansdowne Street West and Sir Sandford Fleming Drive from 7 p.m. on March 29 to 7 a.m. on March 30 to facilitate watermain work.
file photo.
The work has been scheduled overnight to minimize disruption to daytime traffic. A detour will be in place, and access to local properties will be maintained.
Temporary disruptions to water service will occur on Brealey Drive between Stenson Boulevard and Forster Avenue while the work is underway. Affected customers will be notified.
Following watermain work, tap water may be discoloured due to minor sediment in the system. To clear the water, run the cold water tap closest to the water meter for 10 to 15 minutes until it runs clear. If discolouration persists, wait one hour and repeat the process.
For City of Peterborough Water Services inquiries, including discoloured water and watermain breaks on public property, call (extension 1295) during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For after-hours emergencies, this number can be called.
For more information on water services, visit the website.
City of Peterborough's Virtual Public Meeting For New Stormwater Rate Study This Wednesday
/A virtual Public Information Centre on the review of the City of Peterborough Stormwater Management Fee will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. this Thursday.
file photo.
The meeting is the first of two meetings focusing on the City’s stormwater management fee structure. An in-person Public Information Centre will take place in the spring.
In 2025, the City transitioned from funding stormwater services through the general tax levy to a dedicated fee on water bills for residential and business customers. This interim fee, based on assessed property value, is a temporary measure to provide a more predictable funding source while a study is undertaken to consider how the fee is calculated.
The interim fee does not fully address the long-term financial needs of the City’s stormwater system or public expectations around fairness and transparency.
A Stormwater Rate Study is underway to refine this model to ensure stormwater fees better reflect a property’s stormwater impact, improve equity, and support sustainable financial planning.
Proposed fee models include:
Same Fee for Every Residence: Every residence pays the same fee, based on the average amount of impervious area for residential properties.
Residential Fee by Housing Type: Each residential property type (e.g., detached house, townhouse, semi-detached or condo) has a different rate based on the average amount of impervious area for each housing type.
Residential Fee by Housing Size and Type: Each residential property type has a different rate based on the average amount of impervious area for each housing type with different tiers for single-detached houses (for example, small, medium, large).
Registration is required to attend the virtual meeting. Once registered, a link to the virtual meeting will be sent to the email address provided.
Residents can learn more about the Stormwater Rate Study and share their input through an online survey. The survey closes Feb. 13.
The Feb. 4 meeting will be recorded and posted online following the presentation.
City of Peterborough Announces Virtual Public Meeting For New Stormwater Rate Study This February
/A virtual Public Information Centre on the review of the City of Peterborough Stormwater Management Fee will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 4.
file photo.
The Feb. 4 virtual meeting is the first of two meetings focusing on the City’s stormwater management fee structure. An in-person Public Information Centre will take place in the spring.
In 2025, the City transitioned from funding stormwater services through the general tax levy to a dedicated fee appearing on water bills for residential and business water services customers. This interim fee, based on assessed property value, is a temporary measure to provide a more predictable funding source while a study is undertaken to consider how the fee is calculated.
The interim fee does not fully address the long-term financial needs of the City’s stormwater system or public expectations around fairness and transparency.
A Stormwater Rate Study is underway to refine this model to ensure stormwater fees better reflect a property’s stormwater impact, improve equity, and support sustainable financial planning.
Proposed fee models include:
Same Fee for Every Residence: Every residence pays the same fee, based on the average amount of impervious area for residential properties.
Residential Fee by Housing Type: Each residential property type (e.g., detached house, townhouse, semi-detached or condo) has a different rate based on the average amount of impervious area for each housing type.
Residential Fee by Housing Size and Type: Each residential property type has a different rate based on the average amount of impervious area for each housing type with different tiers for single-detached houses (for example, small, medium, large).
Registration is required to attend the virtual meeting. Once registered, a link to the virtual meeting will be sent to the provided email address.
Residents can learn more about the Stormwater Rate Study and share their input through an online survey. The survey closes Feb. 13.
The Feb. 4 meeting will be recorded and posted online following the presentation.
Peterborough Public Health Pauses Water Sample Courier Service For Winter Season
/Peterborough Public Health (PPH), the Municipality of Trent Lakes and the Township of North Kawartha have paused their joint well water sample drop-off program for the winter.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The final date for county residents to drop off their samples at the North Kawartha or Trent Lakes Municipal Offices is Nov. 28. The drop-off service will resume in the first week of April 2025.
Throughout the winter months, residents may continue to drop off well water samples at:
Peterborough Public Health, 185 King St., Peterborough
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday
8:30 a.m. –12 noon Friday
Public Health Ontario Laboratory, 99 Hospital Dr., Peterborough
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township Office, 1 Ottawa St., Havelock
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday
PPH says it is essential to test well water several times yearly. Testing the water twice per year for a drilled well is recommended. For a dug well, the recommendation is four times per year.
“Even when the ground is frozen, contamination may be present. Sampling water from your well is the best way to ensure that the water is free of pathogens, which may cause illness if consumed.” said Chris Eaton, Public Health Inspector.
Well water samples are tested for two types of bacterial contamination: total coliforms and E. coli which indicates the water has been contaminated with fecal material, which can contain disease-causing microbes. These can cause severe gastrointestinal illness. Anyone can become ill if they consume contaminated water but the young, elderly and immuno-compromised are at a higher risk.
After samples are submitted, residents will receive water quality results by mail or call Public Health Ontario’s Interactive Voice Response at 1-877-723-3426.
For interpretation of the test results or to find out how to test for contaminants other than total coliforms or E. coli, please call Peterborough Public Health’s Safe Water Program at 705-743-1000, ext. 240 or visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
CO2 Monitors Available To Borrow For Free In Local Libaries
/According to Peterborough Public Health (PPH), residents can borrow a CO2 Monitor at any library in Peterborough City, County and Hiawatha First Nation, effectively immediately.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
In March last year, Peterborough Public Library in collaboration with PPH, —supported by devices donated by Prescientx and CO2 Check — was the first library in North America to offer CO2 monitors as part of their Library of Things lending catalogue.
As a result of cooler temperatures and rainy weather, people spend more time gathering indoors. An increased risk of spreading and acquiring respiratory illnesses stems from being indoors more often. Respiratory illnesses like RSV, Influenza and COVID-19 can be transmitted through the air we breathe according to PPH. Carbon dioxide (CO2), the air we exhale, can be monitored and used to indicate the quality of the air we breathe.
“As we enter cold and flu season, carbon dioxide monitors are one tool we can add to our suite of tools to help us stay healthy; CO2 monitors can act as a proxy for determining whether a space has adequate ventilation and fresh air,” said Keith Beecroft, PPH health promotor.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Water Sample Courier Service Paused For Winter Season
/Peterborough Public Health (PPH), the Municipality of Trent Lakes and the Township of North Kawartha have paused their joint well water sample drop-off program for the winter.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The final date for county residents to drop off their samples at the North Kawartha Municipal Office and the Trent Lakes Municipal Office is Nov. 30.
The free well water sample drop-off service returns on the first week of April. During the winter months, residents can continue to drop off their samples at the following locations:
Peterborough Public Health, 185 King St., Peterborough, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Fridays
Public Health Ontario Laboratory, 99 Hospital Dr., Peterborough, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township Office, 1 Ottawa St., Havelock between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday.
PPH says it is essential to test well water several times throughout the year. It is recommended to test the water twice per year for a drilled well. For a dug well, the recommendation is four times per year.
“Even when the ground is frozen, contamination may be present. Sampling water from your well is the best way to ensure that the water is free of pathogens, which can cause illness if consumed,” said Chris Eaton, PPH public health inspector. “We look forward to resuming our courier service with the municipalities in the spring so it’s easier for residents to submit well water for testing.”
Well water samples are tested for two types of bacterial contamination: total coliforms and E. coli which indicates the water has been contaminated with fecal material, which can contain disease-causing microbes. These can cause severe gastrointestinal illness. Anyone can become ill if they consume contaminated water but the young, elderly and immuno-compromised are at a higher risk.
After samples are submitted, residents will receive water quality results by mail or call Public Health Ontario’s Interactive Voice Response at 1-877-723-3426.
For interpretation of the test results or to find out how to test for contaminants other than total coliforms or E. coli, please call Peterborough Public Health’s Safe Water Program at 705-743-1000, ext. 240 or visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
City of Peterborough to Host Drop-In Session for New Valleymore Park Splash Pad
/Residents are invited to share their input on plans for a new splash pad at Valleymore Park, located at 338 Spillsbury Dr., at a community drop-in session on May 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre.
file photo.
